The devastated family of an autistic man assaulted by his carer appealed for anyone who witnesses the mistreatment of the vulnerable to have the courage to speak out.

The Duane family issued the appeal as they praised the courage of two unnamed women who came forward and triggered an investigation into the treatment of their 32-year-old son and brother in COPE Foundation's Cork centre.

Carer David Atkinson (41) was fined €500 in Cork District Court after being convicted of assaulting Joseph Duane (32), a COPE resident, with his foot while he was lying on the ground on October 22, 2013.